Despondent
In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
✓ Synonyms
✗ Antonyms
About "Despondent"
Despondent is a vocabulary word commonly tested on the SAT Reading and Writing sections. The word means "In low spirits from loss of hope or courage." Understanding this term and being able to recognize it in context is essential for achieving a high score on the verbal portions of the Digital SAT.
Synonyms Explained
Words that share similar meanings with Despondent include Disheartened, discouraged, dispirited, downcast. On the SAT, you may be asked to identify which word best replaces Despondent in a given sentence. Knowing these synonyms will help you quickly recognize the correct answer, especially in Words in Context questions.
Antonyms and Contrast
The opposite of Despondent includes words like Hopeful and cheerful. Understanding antonyms is crucial for questions that test your ability to identify contrasting ideas in passages. When you see transition words like "however" or "nevertheless," look for these contrasting meanings.
SAT Test Strategy
When encountering Despondent on the SAT, pay attention to context clues in the surrounding sentences. The test often provides hints through parallel structure, examples, or explanatory phrases. Practice identifying this word in different contexts to build your recognition speed and accuracy. This word is classified at the advanced level, making it a challenging vocabulary item for SAT preparation.